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Making the most of your award-win

It always amazes me that people who win an award do very little with the news. Some do a post on their social media and stop there. Winning an award brings a legacy, and you have to be proactive. No one is going to shout it from the rooftops; this is very much your job.

Share a Press release about your award

A press release is the most common channel people go down. They get it written and ping it off to their local newspaper and radio station. But ensure you include more about your story and knowledge than just your award win.

Journalist, Fiona Scott from Scott Media shared a great tip about getting national publicity: “Journalists write about issues and people that fit their brief. The best way to aim for national coverage is to ensure you are ready for those moments when national journalists are looking for someone like you, and you do that by being easily found. An award win strengthens your credibility, but the story is what creates the interest.” Fiona has created an event where you can spend time with journalists. The NO BS Media Summit is in February 2025, you can find the details here. This is a great opportunity for entrpreneurs to talk to journlists and share their journey.

Amanda Fitzgerald, a PR expert, advises, ‘Focus not just on national news outlets but also on specialised publications that align with your industry for more targeted visibility.’ Amanda also has a useful Award Winners PR Masterclass, details here.

When you do get press, make sure you share the links on your social media, but also create a list and share it on your website. Create a media bio and add them in there, too.

Post on LinkedIn about your award

Create a LinkedIn Newsletter about your win. If you don’t know how to create one I recently delivered a talk for Sister Snog, a business club for Female Entrpreneurs, all about this. You can watch it here.

Best Coach Winner Mary Gregory created a newsletter on her award. Read it here. It had 84 likes and over 40 comments. The power of reach is enormous, and she also posted on her timeline. When prospective clients look at you, seeing your award win gives you credibility in your industry.

Sponsor Diane Watson, financial expert and founder of She Can Prosper, created a newsletter on the winner of the category she sponsored. Writing a feature on Gillian Jones-Williams meant this helped gain more widespread awareness of Gillian but also means more coverage for Diane, its a win win!

Podcast

Our podcast, The Business Awards Show, features interviews with winners, sponsors, judges and other award organisers. It is one of the Top 30 marketing podcasts in the UK, and many of our listeners have contacted interviewees about their business after listening to an episode. Look at including being a podcast guest in your marketing strategy. This requires some research. You can start by asking your network which podcasts they know who are looking for guests. Check out your industry and search for podcasts relevant to your niche. There are also a number of Facebook groups that can be used to find slots as a podcast guest.

Speaking

As an award winner, you will find that this elevates your business profile, and you might find yourself getting asked to speak at events. Make the most of this. It was great to see a post on LinkedIn from Becky Wall BEM, founder of a Plush Flush and The Loo Awards, who shared a photo of her speaking at an event—and with her, she had her awards! Make sure you add to your website and LinkedIn profile if you want to be considered as a speaker for events.

TEDx talk

This leads me to discuss TEDx talks. Delivering a TEDx talk is a fabulous opportunity for you to share your perspectives on a topic. Each event is themed, and these talks can be very powerful in raising awareness about important issues, such as social, environmental, technological, and cultural issues. The events take place across the world, and you can find out more here.

One of our winners, Sophie Milliken, not only took her award with her when she delivered her talk but also wore the dress she was wearing the night she won! Sophie told the tale of the truth behind the Show Reel and highlighted that what you see presented at surface level isn’t always the reality. She is a successful businesswoman, winning award after award. Her talk was very transparent about what motivated and inspired her. She has since sold her business and started a new one! Sophie was also awarded an MBE and is now the founder and CEO of Moja Group. Moja works with entrepreneurs and senior executives to amplify their profiles and become known authorities in their industries. Watch her TEDx talk here.

Our Most Inspiring Businesswoman in 2023, Nicola Wood, founder of The Wonderful Wig Company, did an insightful and passionate TEDx on hair loss. She shared her thoughts on the stigma that surrounds hair loss and shared the innovative solutions that offer hope and healing. You can watch it here.

Don’t neglect your website homepage

Add your win to the homepage of your website, dont stop at just adding the logo! You could also add a photo. I was really impressed that The Athena Network showcased their winning Best Networking Group franchisee, Kate Cherry, on the home page of their website. Such a powerful image and what a fantastic way to share with visitors to your website that you are an award-winning business. Also write a blog about your award, what it means to you and the experience of winning.

Spread the about your award message far and wide!

Another of our winners, Cheryl Laidlaw, founder of London Web Girl, received a letter from her MP congratulating her on winning Best Businesswoman in STEM. She also received a post from the University of Westminster, where she graduated many years ago, also sending their congratulations. This is incredible and shows the power of press and social media.

Share your award with your Email list

Have you emailed your list with the news? Your clients are part of the journey, so make sure you tell them! It’s a great chance to thank them for their support, but also consider adding an offer to celebrate your win!

These are just a few of many ideas. My advice is to sit down and brainstorm. Every business is different, so make sure you mark your win with the biggest, widest splash possible and make it count.

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